1 Russell-Cotes Museum will be celebrating a traditional Victorian Christmas this weekend. Visitors will be able to explore the house, meet the resident Victorians and learn about Christmas traditions of the past. There will be story readings, mulled wine, carols, mince pies, biscuit decorating and crafts. No need to book, standard admission applies and biscuit decorating costs extra. The museum is open between 11am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

2 Southbourne's popular annual Nativity Parade returns on Saturday. Youngsters will be able to take part in the parade which sets off from the bandstand in Fisherman's Walk at 10am before it makes its way to Southbourne Green. The parade will feature kings, angels, donkeys and other animals.

3 Christmas classic The Snowman will be brought to life at Lighthouse on Sunday. The animation will be shown on a large screen accompanied by a live orchestral performance of Howard Blake’s iconic score courtesy of the BSO. During the first half of the concert, Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker will be narrated by much-loved CBeebies presenter Pui Fan Lee. Performances take place at 3pm and 7pm. Tickets from £24.75 for adults and £11.50 for children.

4 Classical women's choir La Nova Singers will perform an evening of Christmas music by candlelight at St Ambrose Church in Westbourne on Saturday. They will be performing popular carols including O Holy Night and In Dulci Jubilo alongside music by composers Ola Gjeilo, Herbert Howells and James Macmillan. Mulled wine and hot mince pies will be available to purchase during the interval. Entry is £12.50 in advance, £14 on the door and free for under 10s.

5 Get into the Christmas spirit at Ringwood Brewery on Saturday when the brewery's popular Christmas Carols & Cheer event returns. Between 3pm and 9pm, there will be a beer festival, festive food on sale, shire horses, a Christmas raffle, free mini tours and a children's craft area plus face painting.

6 Corfe Castle's Winter Lights spectacular begins tomorrow night (December 14). Visitors will be able to see the castle illuminated by contemporary lanterns, braziers, beacons and atmospheric lighting every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening between 5pm and 7pm during the rest of December. Visitors are also invited to join Corfe Castle's very own 17th-century royalist mischief-maker, The Lord of Misrule, for stories and games as they journey through the castle ruins at 4.30pm and 5.30pm on each evening of the Winter Lights.

7 A light and pyrotechnic show set to music takes place at The Big Wheel on Friday and Saturday night at 5.30pm and 8.30pm. The show is being held on selected dates only in December and forms part of the Christmas Tree Wonderland attraction which runs until January 2.

8 Firefighters from Poole and Hamworthy will be chaperoning Father Christmas through Poole on Monday night (December 17) when Santa's Fire Sleigh returns. Their journey will begin at 5.30pm when they escort Santa through Waterloo Estate until 7.30pm before moving to Hamworthy until around 9pm. The spectacle is to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity and Forest Holme and also to deliver important fire safety advice to spectators.

9 Santa's Colour Dash comes to Avon Tyrell Outdoor Activity Centre in Bransgore on Sunday. Participants will walk or run their way around a 3k course while being pelted with colourful paint by Santa's naughty elves. Registration takes place from 10.15am and the race starts at 11am followed by a children's race at 12pm. Entry costs £3 per child and £10 per adult. There will also be festive activities between 10.30am and 2pm.